Chapter 99 I Have Fortune
I can't appreciate the calligraphy of County Magistrate Ming at all.

Wang Cong was mentally prepared, his expression didn't change much, and he nodded and said, "It's a little better than the last time I saw it."

Pan Yun couldn't help but sigh in his heart: [It's not easy for my nephew, his handwriting is worse than my second brother's. ]

The black cat poked its head out of Pan Yun's arms to look and laughed silently.

Mingxuan didn't see it, but Wang Cong's affirmation gave him more confidence. "I now practice calligraphy for half an hour every morning."

Mrs. Ming brought in tea and smiled when she heard this: "Yes, our masters are working hard now."

Wang Cong just smiled. It would be a miracle if Mingxuan really worked so hard. If he could spend half an hour practicing calligraphy every day, there was no way he could write like this.

When they went to eat, Pan Yun whispered to Wang Cong, "Master nephew, maybe you can give him a copy of the calligraphy next time."

Wang Cong lowered his voice and said, "It's useless. I've given him several copies. Now I think it's a waste to leave them to him. I really want to take them back for Miaozhen and the others to practice calligraphy."

Mingxuan helped to set the chopsticks and asked, "What are you and your nephew talking about?"

"Oh, they are talking about books," Wang Cong said, "My father said that the children in the temple have grown up and it is time for them to learn some classics, history, and literature, so he asked me to go down the mountain and buy more books to bring back."

He said, "Other books are fine, but the Great Ming Code is hard to buy. I was just about to ask Zibi if he has any extra ones."

Mingxuan's courtesy name was Zibi. Since he was not in the front yamen, Wang Cong no longer called him "County Master" but called him by his courtesy name.

"Yes, I have the Great Edict here, do you want it?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Wang Cong said hurriedly, "I'll take as many as you can get. You know there are many people in my temple, and one or two books won't be enough."

"You think it's cabbage? Take as many as you can." Mingxuan said, "I have copies of the Great Ming Code and the Great Edict here, some of which were issued by the court and some were given by colleagues. I'll go to the study to see if I can find a few sets. You can take them all."

Wang Cong agreed with a smile and talked to him about what he had seen and heard along the way.

Pan Jun just sat aside and ate his meal obediently, without saying a word.

Seeing that she was well-behaved, Mrs. Ming picked up some food for her and asked in a gentle voice, "How come you became a Taoist priest at such a young age?"

Pan Yun said: "My senior brothers and sisters said that I have a talent for cultivation."

Mrs. Ming asked, "What about your parents and family? Are they willing to let you become a monk?"

Pan Yun lowered his head and said sadly: "My mother is dead, my father... I was sold into slavery, and I met my senior brothers and sisters by chance."

When Mrs. Ming heard this, she felt very sorry for him and said, "Since you have come to our Yushan County, forget about the past. I think your brothers and sisters treat you very well."

"You are now a temple priest, so you have a future. When you grow up, even if you fail the exam, you can still settle down in Fenshui Village and make a living as a temple priest."

Temple keeper has extra income. Not only can she use this identity to take on some work related to the mountain god temple nearby, but she can also get some of the offerings made to the mountain god temple by the people.

So she can already gain a foothold in this world.

Mrs. Ming felt that Sanqing Temple was really good to the little girl.

Pan Yun smiled and nodded, and said confidently: "But I can definitely pass the exam."

"Oh? Are you so confident?" Mingxuan said with a smile, "Do you know how difficult it is to pass the test now?"

Pan Yun is full of confidence: "No matter how difficult the exam is, I can pass it."

After all, she had studied Taoism for such a long time in her previous life. Even if there are some differences between the Taoism of the two worlds, she can achieve twice the result with half the effort by studying again. I don't believe that she will not pass the exam.

Ming Xuan clapped his hands and smiled, "This confidence is good, it's my style. How about this, you and Wang Cong take the exam together next year. If you pass, I will reward you... reward you. You will get the same treatment as the students."

Pan Yun turned around and asked Wang Cong, "Will you take the test next year?"

"Yes," Wang Cong said, "I will take the test in June next year, so I will not travel far after I come back this time. I will just do business nearby. When Guangxin Prefecture starts the test, I will go to take the test."

Mingxuan got the confirmed news and sighed again, "It's a pity that you are so talented and knowledgeable, but you actually took the test for the certificate of ordination. Are you really not considering taking the exam for a career in government?"

Wang Cong shook his head.

"Forget it, I won't force you."

He said he would not force me, but when he really went to the study to look for the "Great Ming Code" and "Great Edict", he also found some extra classics, history books, and his previous study notes and stuffed them into his hands. "These are all the ones I used for the imperial examinations. Although some of them are outdated, the interpretation of the classics is not there. You should read more. If you fail the exam next year, you should come back to take the imperial examination."

Wang Cong laughed and scolded: "Stop talking nonsense. I have been studying Taoism since I was a child. How can I fail the exam?"

There were so many books that they filled up an entire box, and in the end they had to be carried onto the car by servants.

Wang Cong and Ming Xuan clasped their fists and said, "I'm leaving now. We'll meet again another day."

Mingxuan clasped his fists and watched them leave on the mule cart. He sighed and said, "It was all his father who led him astray~~"

Mrs. Ming had walked up to his side at some point and said, "Money can't buy happiness. I see Mr. Wang is enjoying it. Why do you have to force him?"

"What do you know? Apart from the imperial examination, everything else is a wrong path."

"I think you are crazy. Just study hard. Why do you have to take the imperial examination?" Mrs. Ming said, "If we didn't have some assets at home, we wouldn't even be able to afford food with your salary as a county magistrate."

"Nonsense, our ancestors calculated the salaries of our officials well, so we definitely have no problem eating enough, it's just that the food isn't that good."

"You're right. You don't have to eat meat tomorrow. You also don't have to drink tea or wine for the next month." Mrs. Ming turned and left.

Mingxuan opened his mouth wide and hurriedly followed behind to admit his mistake, "Madam, I know I was wrong. I just said it casually. I know that most of the money in the family is earned by you. Thanks to your management, our family life is better..."

Ming Xuan went to coax his wife, while Wang Cong also coaxed Pan Yun, "Little Master, are you feeling bored? I'll take you shopping later."

Pan Yun was not a real child, so she refused directly and said, "Let's go to Qian's house."

Last time she sold twenty talismans to the Qian family, she spent all the money within one day. She still sent fifty taels to Datong, and used the remaining one hundred and fifty taels to pay off the money she owed to Tao Ji and Wang Feiyin. The rest was all put into the Taoist temple's account to cover the expenses of repairing the mountain temple.

Sure enough, after spending all the money, not only did she not have bad luck, she was even very lucky these two days. She had a vague feeling that her luck was getting better, or in other words, she was becoming less unlucky.

Although the change was subtle, she still felt it.

Wang Cong knew that she was going to the Qian family to sell talismans and said hurriedly: "Little Master, I made a lot of money from my business this time. If there is a gap in the construction of the mountain temple, I can make up for it."

"Didn't you just say that only your father and I can pay for the construction of the mountain temple?"

Wang Cong: "That's what my father said, but I feel that the money I earn should be put into the Taoist temple in the end. Everything in the Taoist temple belongs to my father, so it's not wrong to say that this money came from my father."

Seeing that he treated money like dirt, Pan Yun patted his shoulder with deep emotion and said, "My dear nephew, I am sorry for you. Such a big Taoist temple is burdened on your shoulders..."

"I don't feel wronged," Wang Cong said as a matter of course: "After my father passes away, this Taoist temple will be inherited by me. Isn't it natural for me to take care of it now?" The Taoist temple is his home, what's wrong with him supporting his family?

Pan Yun choked for a moment and said, "But we may all scatter. I heard that the money that Third Senior Brother earns from seeing patients is not enough to make his own pills. The expenses of the temple all depend on you. Our food, clothes, and medicinal bath expenses all depend on you."

Wang Cong couldn't help but laugh when he saw her worrying like an adult. He reached out and touched her head and said, "Little Master, you are still young. Don't think too much about these troubles. We are a family. Isn't it our duty to raise each other?"

"You don't have to be afraid of spending money. I don't have any other skills, but I still have the ability to make money to support you," Wang Cong said gently, "You just need to practice well with Miao Zhenmiao and your fellow apprentice sisters, and don't worry about other things."

He paused and said, "Besides, you have bad luck with money, so you shouldn't bother with this, lest it affects your Taoism."

Pan Yun's voice shrieked, "My fortune is bad?"

She snorted and said unconvincedly: "I can't save money, but it's not because of bad luck. I have a strong ability and luck to make money."

Wang Cong just smiled.

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Pan Yun pointed ahead and said, "Go to Qian's house. Go to Qian's house now!"

Pan Yun originally just wanted to go to the Qian family to maintain relations with Mr. Qian and his son. After all, it was not easy for her to keep money, and she didn't have any big projects that would cost money right now. In addition, it takes a long time to consume the talismans, so she didn't plan to sell them this time.

But she has changed her mind now.

Pan Jun took out her big wallet, opened it, moved her hands in the cloth bag, and the talismans stored in the spiritual space came into her palms. She took them all out and selected them one by one.

She wanted to pick out an interesting and unique talisman to give to Mr. Qian.

Pan Yun quickly picked out a powerful talisman, folded it, and stuffed all the other talismans into a big wallet and hung it around his waist.

Wang Cong saw this and couldn't help but wonder, "What kind of talisman is this? Why have I never seen it before?"

"You've probably never seen it before. This is a new talisman I drew. I'm the only one in the world who can draw it. It's called the Power Talisman. Once you stick it on, you'll be as strong as an ox. Your strength will increase when you do things or fight."

Wang Cong frowned, "Is there such a talisman? Where does the power of the Great Strength Talisman come from?"

Pan Yun said: "In the past, we always thought that the power of the Great Strength Talisman was borrowed from the body, just like gathering the body's energy in one place for a short period of time, so there are often symptoms of muscle soreness and malaise after using it. But now I know that the power of the Great Strength Talisman is borrowed from the gods."

"The talisman I'm drawing now is to borrow strength from Hou Tu Niangniang," Pan Yun said, "After many experiments, I found that borrowing strength from Hou Tu Niangniang is the most labor-saving and has the greatest increase in strength. I think it's because the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is closer to Hou Tu Niangniang. When the talisman is activated, it directly captures the spiritual energy in the air and converts it into Yuanli, which can be used by people without entering the Dantian."

The Great Power Talisman was a basic talisman in the previous life, and its use always caused soreness and fatigue as a side effect.

Neither she nor the people in her previous life felt anything was wrong until they came to this world.

Only then did she realize that talismans could be so comfortable and smooth to use.

It turns out that drawing talismans is not only about communicating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and using the rules of heaven and earth to achieve goals, but also about establishing a cooperative relationship with the will of God.

When the three are combined together, the talisman drawn is more powerful, the user consumes less energy, and it is smoother to use.

Only God knows how happy she was when she was studying these talismans in the mountains.

Alas, it is so annoying to be entangled in worldly affairs. After the mountain temple is built, she will practice hard and stay at home in the mountain for two months.

When she arrived at the Qian family, Mr. Qian still received her warmly.

He didn't think much about the talisman recommended by Pan Yun and just closed his eyes and entered.

Seeing that there was only one, he felt very sorry, "Why did the little immortal only draw one talisman this time? Are you feeling unwell?"

"I am in good health, but I am so obsessed with cultivation that I don't have any extra time to draw talismans."

Wang Cong couldn't help but turn his head to look at her. He saw her take out a large handful of talismans just now. There was a flickering light on them, and it was obvious that they were pre-drawn.

Pan Yun wanted to maintain the relationship, but didn't want to pluck all the hair off the fat sheep at once. When it comes to making money, you should do it slowly and steadily.

Pan Yun earned twenty taels of silver and even boasted to Master Qian for a while. He only got up and said goodbye after Master Qian had talked to his heart's content.

This time, Mr. Qian gave two silver ingots, which looked white, big and beautiful.

Pan Yun held one in each hand, and when she got on the bus, she showed Wang Cong the silver ingots in her hands, "What do you think? I thought it wasn't difficult to make money, right?"

Wang Cong didn't understand. "Why? My father and fourth uncle can also draw talismans, so why can't their talismans be sold in Yushan County?"

Pan Jun: "That's because they don't sell them, right? I've never seen them sell talismans, or even draw talismans, except during class."

Wang Cong turned his head to look at him, "Little Master, you are too naive. The reason why my father and Fourth Master don't draw talismans is that except when performing rituals, the talismans they draw are basically useless."

"Why?" Pan Jun didn't understand. "I think the talismans they drew are pretty good."

Wang Cong spread his hands, "Maybe this is because I don't have good fortune."

Pan Yun approached Wang Cong and whispered, "Nephew, do you know why the people in Sanqing Mountain don't have much luck in making money?"

Wang Cong: "It may be due to the influence of the mountain god, but it only applies to my junior uncle's generation. My fellow junior brothers and sisters and I are not that affected."

"Do you know the origin of the mountain god Pan Gong?"

Wang Cong shook his head. "I don't know. Even my father didn't dare to ask the mountain god. But..."

He also looked around and lowered his voice and said, "My father secretly read the classics and suspected that he had participated in the battle between gods and immortals. He might have been on the wrong side at that time."

Pan Yun widened his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Is this true?"

"I don't know if it's true or not. My father suspected this and only told me. Junior Master, please don't tell anyone else."

Pan Jun nodded, "I will definitely not tell you, so whose side does he support?"

"Maybe he is related to monsters, or he is a deity who is inclined towards monsters. Isn't the mountain god a chicken head and a crane body? Since he is a monster god, he is naturally on the side of monsters."

Pan Yun turned to look at him.

Wang Cong was nervous when she looked at him, "What's wrong?"

Pan Yun patted his shoulder and said, "My nephew, don't believe the rumors. Who said that the mountain god has a chicken head and a crane body? He is clearly a crane, a very beautiful crane. If you don't believe me, go back and ask your father."

Wang Cong: "... Could it be that Junior Master has really seen the mountain god?"

Pan Jun was very proud: "Of course, and more than once."

　Today's lucky number is the number ending in 9, as shown in the screenshot
　　(End of this chapter)